On March 26, 2018, Robert C. Booker, who retired in August 2017 after a 40 year career in arts administration, including serving as Executive Director of the Arizona Commission on the Arts from 2006 – 2017, was awarded theĀ Roger Lidman Distinguished Service Award. The award is given by the Museum Association of Arizona (MAA) in recognition of a recent career milestone “to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to an individual museum, the museum profession, the local community, to Arizona, to MAA, and/or to other professional organizations.”

Accepting the award today at the 2018 MAA Spring Conference, Booker shared the following remarks:

We need to be implicated in change. Correct our offences in interpreting the pastā€¦call out what is wrong and celebrate what is good and noble during these present days and provide meaningful experiences and exhibitions that imagine a future that is brighter, more inclusive, more colorful, kinder, and attainable to all.

We are called into leadership in our field and thankfully I believe, we the have the skills, the knowledge and the passion to assume the task.

It is an honor to receive the Roger Lidman award. Roger was a friend, an amazing individual a keeper of truths and a leader in our field.

Thank you so very much for this acknowledgement.